Orton not fretting Quinn trade

Talked to Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton earlier this evening. He’s out in Hawaii attending the NFL union meetings. Orton’s reaction to the Brady Quinn trade: “”We’ve made a lot great moves this offseason and this is another one,’’ Orton said. “”He’s a great player and I’ll be happy to work with him.’’

The other moves Orton referred to were mostly about the Broncos revamping their defensive line with the signings of Jamal Williams, Justin Bannan and Jarvis Green.

Orton said he had to talked to Broncos coach Josh McDaniels just after the trade for Quinn was executed.

“”I will keep that private but I do have total confidence that I’m the guy there,’’ Orton said. “”Just like every year I’m going in to try and earn my starting job. I don’t think I have anything to fret.’’

Orton’s presence over there will make him absent here at 8 a.m. Monday for the first team meeting of the 2010 season. Orton said he will arrive at Dove Valley and begin his offseason conditioning program with the team Friday.

“”My couple days I’m not there is certainly not a message I’m trying to send,’’ Orton said. “”I’m out here trying to help the 53 players on the roster and the 1,900 players get ready for a lockout that the owners seem committed to.’’

Orton is the only one of the Broncos’ Big 5 restricted free agents _ the others are Elvis Dumervil, Brandon Marshall, Chris Kuper and Tony Scheffler _ who will attend the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program this week. Many of the NFL’s restricted free agents will skip the voluntary session as a form of protest against their one-year tenders. In other years, fourth- and fifth-year players like the Broncos’ Big 5 would have become unrestricted free agents. Not in the uncapped year. Complete free-agent eligibility has been upped to six years of service.

“”It’s an unfortunate situation that people have to handle individually. It’s a personal decision,’’ said Orton, a fifth-year player. “”I see it as the clubs are using the rules in place to put the tenders on these guys. It’s also in the rules that players don’t have to show up for offseason workouts. I certainly support the other four guys 100 percent for not showing up. I also feel that as a quarterback, I owe it to my teammates to be there.’’

His newest teammate, and quarterback partner, is Quinn.

“’Whether you trade for a guy, or draft a guy, or you sign a guy in free agency, all you ask for is a chance for competition,’’ Orton said. “”I’ve been in situations where that wasn’t the case and that’s the most frustrating deal. If you get beat out by a guy you can handle that. If you never have a chance to compete then that’s a whole different story.’’